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WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO WIN NBA PLAYOFFS: EXPERIENCE OR YOUNG LEGS?

SPORTS By Robin Milbrand

Basketball, more than any other sport except perhaps tennis, requires young legs to jump, run, stop, start and cut. An older team without young legs can be successful, but experience alone will only take an NBA team so far in the playoffs.

This year's NBA Playoffs are divided into two types of teams -- experienced or athletic.

The Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs are prime examples of experienced playoff teams.

The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets are examples of young athletic teams.

To win the NBA Championship, it is necessary to have both athleticism and experience, but as the grind of the playoffs goes on, athleticism becomes more and more important.

Below is a list of the top 11 contending playoff teams and their strengths and weaknesses:

1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Strengths: Team chemistry, home court advantage, team defense
Weakness: Old legs

2. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Strengths: Huge front line, Kobe Bryant, two-time champions
Weaknesses: Defense against quickness, thin bench

3. MIAMI HEAT
Strengths: Le Bron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh
Weaknesses: Everything else

4. CHICAGO BULLS
Strengths: The fabulous Derrick Rose, best team defense in the league, home court advantage
Weakness: Young and inexperienced

5. DALLAS MAVERICKS
Strengths: Veteran leadership from Jason Kidd, good depth, perimeter shooting
Weaknesses: Old legs, a history of choking in the playoffs

6. BOSTON CELTICS
Strengths: Strong veteran experience, toughness, a reasonable bench
Weaknesses: Oldest legs in the league, limped into playoffs and finished the last 20 games under .500

7. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Strengths: The league's best scorer Kevin Durant, the West's most athletic point guard Russell Westbrook, strong defense in the middle
Weakness: Lack of experience 8. DENVER NUGGETS
Strength: Most depth of any team in the playoffs (10 players who can get 20 points any night)
Weakness: No go-to guy

9. ORLANDO MAGIC
Strengths: Unstoppable Dwight Howard, savvy point guard Jameer Nelson, experienced shooters
Weaknesses: Inconsistent team continuity, too many jump shots

10. NEW YORK KNICKS
Strengths: Two superstars, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups' leadership, shooting
Weaknesses: Team defense, an uptempo style that may be grounded

11. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS Strengths: La Marcus Aldridge, a nice collection of young forwards, point guard Andre Miller, running the offense Weaknesses: Brendan Roy's injuries, an inconsistent bench

My three biggest upsets in the playoffs


1. The New York Knicks beating the Boston Celtics in six games
2. The Portland Trail Blazers over the Dallas Mavericks in seven games
3. The Oklahoma City Thunder upsetting the San Antonio Spurs in six games

My Conference and Finals picks


East: The Miami Heat over the Chicago Bulls in 6 games
West: The Los Angeles Lakers over the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games
Finals: The Miami Heat beating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games
Most Valuable Player: Le Bron James, Miami Heat

My regular season awards


Most Valuable Player: Derrick Rose
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin

First Team All Pro:
Forward: Le Bron James, Miami Heat
Forward: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Center: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Guard: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Guard: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Second Team All Pro:
Forward: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Forward: Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Center: Amare Stoudemire, New York Knicks
Guard: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Guard: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

I believe young legs trump experience, which only takes a team so far in the playoffs.

If you are old enough to remember the Buffalo Braves and were a fan as I was, root for the Miami Heat, because Bob McAdoo is one of their assistant coaches. That's two for McAdoo!

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com April 19, 2011